Reported characteristics of children referred from primary care to pediatric allergy specialist care

Results Of the questionnaires that were sent out 62% was returned. From the children (n = 81, Mage = 8 years; range 3 months to 17 years) 57% was male. For 17.3% of the children no diagnosis had been established, 1 allergy diagnose was reported in 25.9% of the referred children, and 56.7% reported to have a diagnose for multiple allergies. Of the children for whom one or more diagnoses were reported, 59.8% had eczema, 43.9% food allergy, 29.2% rhinitis, 23.2% asthma and 24.4% had another allergy, not specified. Reference to the specialist due to anaphylactic reactions was reported in 81.6% of the cases. The anaphylactic reactions were caused by food products (80.3%), drugs (9.1%), insect venoms (6.1%), and unknown cause (4.5%). Reported symptoms of anaphylaxis to foods, drugs, and insect venoms were: dizziness and/or palpitations 12.1%, loss of consciousness 6.1%, nausea and/or abdominal cramps 37.9%, vomiting and/or diarrhea 24.2%, itching in the mouth, ears and/or throat 36.4%, itching of the tongue and/or lips 19.7%, itchy and/ or watery eyes 37.9%, tongue and/ or lips swelling 28.8%, tightness of the throat 37.9%, and cough 28.8%. It was reported what quantity of food caused complaints, in 64.3% it were crumbs to a few bites /sips, in 12.5% it was a daily portion, and 23.2% did not know. The most common allergenic foods suspected to cause the allergy in food induced anaphylaxis were peanuts 62.3%, milk 34% 8%, hazelnut 30.2%, walnut 26.4%, egg 24.5%, cashew 24.5%, pistachio 24.5%, and almond 20.8%.